The ramblings of a pilgrim through time, space, and life.

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Andra Effectual Doors

Sometimes when we least expect it is when some of the doors open for us and others.

I have not been spending very much time with family history as late. I took a breather for a while and I had some other things in my life I wanted to focus on a bit more. However, I have kept my thumb in the water to see if it was hot.

On the 4th of August is the Andra Reunion scheduled in Lava Hot Springs. A number of the family were each asking me if I knew more details so I took it upon myself to find out the details. I then took all the information and assembled it into an e-mail and sent it out to the 40 or so individuals whose e-mails I have who are linked to the Andra family. As a sneaky little family history person, I placed a chart with all the descendents I have for the Andra family. I asked that if I was missing any or needed an update, to please let me know. I also encouraged people to pass on the notice about the reunion to those who did not or may not have received it.

Within a week I received about a dozen e-mails with updates on those directly related. But then the more exciting e-mails started to appear.

As I have written about earlier, the only real family I have had difficulty in obtaining their information is that of the eldest son, William. He passed away in the early 90’s and Edith continues to live in Missouri. She has moved in recently with her son, Marc, and has slowed in her age. In about 2001 she insisted I would not have their records for privacy and legal reasons. I met with her son, Kent, the same day and they pretty much insisted on the same. I left it behind but continued to foster friendship.

Kent passed away in 2003 and my communication with his family opened up. His wife Mary gave me group sheets with all the information on all of Kent’s family and opened up e-mail communication. Ever since, I have been updated with every new addition. But she has insisted she doesn’t have contact with the rest of the family. In sending out the family reunion e-mail, I don’t know how, but I received an e-mail from 2 of Kent’s brothers inquiring about the family reunion. It opened communication with those families. Already, I have added one of those two brother’s information to the family records. The other one is openly willing to share.

What added to it more is that I was able to ask about the other two brother’s families for whom I did not have any information. They openly gave me their e-mail addresses and I look forward to e-mailing them. This was pretty well the final major hole in any of the descendents of the Andra family. I am very thrilled to have had it fall together so well. Even if it has been 6 years in banging my head against the wall.

The next bit I would like to add relates to another Andra door. This is through Donald’s line though. As I have related before in 2006, I have pursued another line which had been lost to the Andra family. It was Don’s daughter Lori Kaye. I finally was able to track her mother’s family down and then her. It fit nicely that at the time we lived only a few miles away. At that time they welcomed me in, we became friends, but there was no option of expanding that door to allow Don back in to her life.

Friendship and continued communication with Lori Kaye kept things good. Then the change came. Her daughter, Sunny, was getting married. I received an invitation and invited some of the rest of the family to go in on a gift. Don also sent Lori Kaye a birthday card, the first one in over 50 years of her life. Add to that her husband’s call as a Bishop, Don & Lolane’s call for a mission, and everything just came. Don so earnestly wanted to make some mends in this case and I seem to think the Gleim’s wanted to resolve the difference as well. Completely unknown to me until after the fact, they met and enjoyed dinner together one night. In visiting with Don and Lolane later, it was absolutely amazing. All animosity, if any, was not present. They enjoyed each other’s company and the night was wonderful. I really wish every story of estrangement could work out so well.

I look forward to those other doors which I knocked on to open up completely. I wonder what the next one will be…